“This is — impossible!”
When the Tailcoat Death God Croix Baron left the stone on the table, the God King were yelling loud enough for that to echo to the surrounding.
His hands trembled while he observed the stone with a crack on its center from every angles and shook head many times over.
“……No doubt about it. Although it had lost the majority of its power from the curse, but this is truly one of the [Astra].”
“Kihaha! Is that true? What a terrifying thing it is.”
“No, you are wrong, Croix. This isn’t a weapon. It was called the “Crown Stone” on our soil.”
Scathach and Canaria opened the gate and entered the deserted house.
Croix asks the meaning of her word as his shadow fluttered.
“What is going on here? Isn’t Astra the name given to the strongest weapon that mankind possesses?”
Croix Baron asked with a puzzled expression.
As for the God King, he was truly surprised this time seeing how that top secret was found out so easily.
“Wait…… wait a minute, hold your horse right there!! Astra’s role was supposed to be a top secret even among the Divine Army! Just how did you all found out about that!?”
“Did something happen, His Majesty!?”
“Bang”. The door flew after being forcefully opened by the God King’s carrier elephant – Airavata.
He was likely on standby on the outside to prepare for any unexpected situation.
The God King shoves away his cold sweat as he hides the cracking stone.
“Get out, Aira. We are discussing something important at the moment. No need to concern.”
“Bu, but, His Majesty. Prithvi-sama told me to steel myself and do the best I could to protect you on this journey……”
“I am your master, right? Thus, you must obey my order first. There is nothing you can do here.”
Hearing the God King’s harsh scold, the sullen Aira quickly showed his displeasure, pouted his lips and insolently spited saliva.
“Geh, the hell is that attitude of yours for!? We “Vimana” are two as one with our master! Be it a battle, having a meal, on an expedition or visiting that lewd onee-chan’s shop, I am always with Your Majesty!”
“Good, now be silent and shut up! I have my position and I couldn’t even find where is my wife’s monitor now, so just shut your damn mouth up!”
“Kihaha! Are you still trying to save your dignity even now, God King-sama!? The topic where the majority of the Deva are a bunch of vulgar gods was already so famous, so why you even need to care about that!?”
“Yeah! Moreover, I even knew that His Majesty is often hanging out with that lewd Daiyouko(1)-oneechan who looks so erotically cute and indecently sad who controls the whole multicolored red light district of the north! This is the rumor from Rasetsuten-sama who controls all red light districts, what a bastard you are!”
“Okay okay, my fault. I will tell you about this, so after this, could you at least share me every tiniest details of that rumor?”
The God King looks up to the Heaven as if he has surrendered both of his hands.
“This annoyance is unbearable.”, the God King held his face and started to explain about the Astra.
“Astra — The hidden code that was created when the two God Kings saved the world, to demonstrate Gifts and Authorities that are essential for saving mankind the ultimate destruction.
Typically, [Astra] has two meanings.
First is [Star / Nova] according to the Latin Language of Western Europe.
Second is [Weapon] according to the Sanskirt Language of India.
They existed under various forms such as Astra, Astel, Stella, while they changed shape inside the whirlpool of eras, they continue to wander across the world and shall appear in the unknown future to save mankind.”, the God King said.
After hearing his word, the curious Canaria raised her hand and asked him.
“Me me me, I have question for you, God King-sama! Do you know what kind of evolution the Astra is going to take, God King-sama?”
“I can’t, I don’t know everything. I don’t know whether it was born on a place far different from the existing civilization nor what kind of power dwelling inside it. If I have to say, I know its original form, but only knowing its original form is meaningless and valueless. Astra’s meaning is the transformation and constant evolution within the life of mankind.”
“……? Then, won’t that be a trouble later on? Since without knowing what kind of evolution it takes, the gods are also incapable of controlling it either.”
The God King simply shook his head as Scathach’s words.
“We never intend to control it. That thing is a gift for mankind to save themselves. We can only observe it so that it will never fall into the wrong hand. Why? — The guidance to protect mankind from destruction, is also Astra’s role.”
The God King shows a difficult face when he place the stone with a crack on the center.
“This stone…… was it the Crown Stone? It is very special among all Astras. When I saw it doesn’t have the power to use as a weapon, I thought it was something that chooses “the one qualifies to hold the Astra”.”
“Choose…… So, it chooses the one worthy to hold the strongest weapon?”
“Correct. Remember that event about Balor. His ancestors didn’t use Astra to save the world, but only use for their own race. My speculation is that this Crown Stone was created to avoid that sort of situation.”
If Astra’s enormous power went out of control, it will cause great disasters.
“To choose the vessel with a strong heart that can resist against the charm of its power and connect to the distant future, was the purpose of the Crown Stone’s creation.”, the God King speculated.
But, Scathach disapproved with that this time.
“Yes, I can agree with most of your words. However, from my point of view, I can feel you only get 50% correct, the other 50% is still insufficient.”
“You mean?”
“This stone was also called “Crown Stone” in the Celtic Pantheon. According to them, this was used as [the stone monument that exclaims the name of the king] at the ritual decides the king of the next generation.”
“The stone monument that — exclaims the name of the king?”
“Yes. Just as Your Majesty said a while ago, “Astra guides mankind” as the pillar of its meaning. And, a king is the individual with the power to guide a nation. Thus, the chosen king by the “Crown Stone” = the chosen figure who saves mankind from destruction, isn’t that what it implies to be?”
Hearing Scathach’s reasoning, the God King nods seeing how much sense it made, meanwhile Canaria gives applause and looks at Scathach with high esteem.
“That makes sense…… So Astra isn’t a stone that guides mankind, but a stone chooses the one with the power to guide them?”
“Actually, I think it means more than just guiding alone. The problem is…… this Crown Stone’s owner was that Dystopia.”
“Wha–“. the God King and Aira suddenly found themselves a loss for word.
Both of them were going to yell, but Scathach extended her right hand to stop them.
Notes:(1) A type of Kitsune, but more powerful than normal ones.